Foreign Minister Marise Payne has urged Thailand to release an Australian-based refugee soccer player from detention in Bangkok.
The federal government has called for an Australian-based refugee soccer player to be immediately released from detention in Thailand.
Hakeem AlAraibi had been in Thailand holidaying with his wife when he was detained at Bangkok airport in November. He was held on an Interpol warrant issued at the request of Bahrain.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne says she has raised the matter with Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai, requesting that Mr AlAraibi be allowed to fly back to Melbourne as soon as possible.
Returning Mr AlAraibi to Bahrain, where he fled in fear of his safety, would contravene his rights under international human rights law, Senator Payne says.
“Australia is concerned by the ongoing detention of Mr Hakeem Ali AlAraibi and calls for his immediate return to Australia,” Ms Payne said.
“Mr AlAraibi was granted permanent residency by the Australian Government in 2017 in recognition of his status as a refugee.
“Australia has made, and will continue to make, high-level diplomatic representations seeking Mr Alaraibi’s safe return.”
Mr AlAraibi sent out a message on Friday saying he feared being tortured if he was deported to Bahrain.
He fled to Australia in 2014 and was granted refugee status in November 2017.
His status as a permanent resident allows him to remain in Australia indefinitely and to travel to and from the country, so long as he does not travel to Bahrain.
Mr AlAraibi has been critical of the Bahraini government, speaking about an incident where he was allegedly tortured by Bahraini authorities in 2012
